Circular country between Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans and Isle-Saint-Georges

A peaceful ride through the lush Gironde countryside, with very few vineyards for a change, but woods, hay meadows and green pastures, as well as streams, marshes and ‘esteys’ – as one would expect given the proximity to the Garonne.
Please note: a large part of the walk is along roads, so do take care

Details

n°7216262
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.48 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 16 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 16 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 36 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the Complexe Sportif de la Bugonne, Chemin de la Bugonne, below the church.

(S/E) Take Chemin de la Bugonne, which first runs alongside the multi-sports hall and its car park, then past the sewage treatment plant, which you’ll leave on your left.
After this, the track, which has been fully passable up to this point, becomes semi-passable and runs alongside a woodland, then through meadows.

(1) Leave the track, which continues straight on along the (paved) Chemin du Petit Brésil. Turn right at a right angle onto the paved road. After 300 to 400 metres, just after the junction with a road which you leave on your right, you pass Turpaut Castle. Further on, the road turns sharply left and passes under a power line. Continue to the village, which you cross, and there, follow the signs for “Ayguemorte – Bautiran”.

(2) Opposite the church, cross the bridge and turn right, following the Ruisseau de Saucats. At an iron cross, the road leaves the Saucats. At this iron cross, take the dirt track that runs alongside the Saucats on its right bank (on your left as you face away from the village). Follow this pleasant path alongside the stream until you soon reach the road and come to a footbridge.

(4) Cross this footbridge and you will now be on the left bank of the Saucats; continue upstream, heading west and then south.

(5) You’ll reach the road between Ayguemorte-les-Graves (on the left) and Saint-Médard d’Eyrans (on the right). Lovers of beautiful religious buildings may wish to make a detour to admire the lovely church in Ayguemortes, on the main street. Otherwise, turn right and follow the road for about 600 metres; at certain times of day, there may be a bit of traffic.

(6) Leave this road by turning right onto a very quiet road that passes in front of the beautiful Château d’Eyrans (Chemin du Château). Take the opportunity to admire, on the left, a very fine traditional building constructed of stone with a timber framework, facing the vineyard, and, a little further on to the right, the Château d’Eyrans.

(7) After the château, turn left onto Rue des Fauvettes, which gradually leads into the village and joins the station area and a level crossing.

(8) Continue straight ahead, walk alongside the railway tracks on your left, then pass in front of the church and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 20 ft - Sports ground car park - Saint-Médard (Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans)
  2. 1 : mi 0.97 - alt. 13 ft - Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 2.29 - alt. 20 ft - Bridge over the Saucats
  4. 3 : mi 2.41 - alt. 13 ft - Cross
  5. 4 : mi 2.95 - alt. 13 ft - Footbridge
  6. 5 : mi 3.93 - alt. 20 ft - Route between Ayguemortes and Saint-Médard d’Eyrans
  7. 6 : mi 4.41 - alt. 33 ft - Towards Eyrans Castle
  8. 7 : mi 4.66 - alt. 23 ft - Junction with Rue des Fauvettes
  9. 8 : mi 5.1 - alt. 36 ft - Level crossing
  10. S/E : mi 5.48 - alt. 20 ft - Sports ground car park - Saint-Médard (Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans)

Notes

Date of the ride: 28 April 2015 – repeated in autumn 2022 and modified following this second visit.

This walk presents no difficulty and therefore requires no special equipment. As part of the route follows a track suitable for vehicles or a tarmac road, despite the charm I found in it, I would not recommend it to those who do not like walking ‘on hard surfaces’, although I have improved it considerably compared to its first version.

The route can be completed entirely by bike, but as it would be a bit short, it can be combined with a much longer circular route in the Martillac, Saucats and La Brède areas.

Furthermore, it presents no difficulty for wheelchair users, who will find it a varied and enjoyable route, though care should be taken on the 600-metre stretch between points (5) and (6).

Worth a visit

Although we have largely avoided the vineyards, they are very much in evidence in this area, as we are here in the Graves region; as such, there are plenty of châteaux in the vicinity, and for wine lovers, there are opportunities for tours, tastings and purchasing directly from the estates.

Also worth noting in the immediate vicinity is the Saucats Geological Reserve. A visit to the fossil collection is a must, as is a guided tour: a pleasant and interesting walk through the forest offering plenty to discover. You can repeat this walk without a guide afterwards, as beyond its scientific interest it remains a lovely stroll (notably featuring the mill on the Saucats).

Finally, ‘last but not least!’, the Château de la Brède, once the home of Montesquieu, is open to visitors all year round and admission to the grounds is free.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments; I have just amended the route after (8).

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stjo
stjo

@bx86 Yes, I know the stork and the heron – they’re Marcel and Josette!

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bx86
bx86

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
There isn’t much to add to the comment from November 2022, other than to note that the level crossing on the road leading to the starting point has indeed been closed permanently. You’ll need to follow the diversion signposted ‘église’ (due to work on the high-speed rail line).

The roads and paths are still quiet, with no difficulties whatsoever.
Few animals to be seen apart from a stork and a heron, though there were quite a few young horses (a good fifteen or so) in the meadows running alongside the road to Isle-Saint-Georges.

Kind regards

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garbaye.alain@wanadoo.fr
garbaye.alain@wanadoo.fr

Hello. “It is said” that a pedestrian crossing is to be installed at the closed level crossing. This information is yet to be confirmed,

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stjo
stjo

Yes, @Minos, I’ve been able to see the construction work on this new street on Google Maps. I sincerely sympathise with the few residents living on this new street, for whom peace and quiet is now nothing but a distant memory.

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Minos
Minos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I suggest doing the route in the opposite direction so that you finish in the countryside.

PLEASE NOTE: the level crossing at point 9 is permanently closed. From point 8, you should no longer cross the railway line but carry on straight ahead: a new road has been built.

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bernardoreyen
bernardoreyen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike. The only downside: at the end of the circular route, be careful when walking along the road that runs alongside the railway line. There is a lot of traffic, which tends to drive too fast on this straight stretch. It is essential to walk in single file.

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garbaye.alain@wanadoo.fr
garbaye.alain@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike for 80% of the route. The section along the road running parallel to the railway line requires great care, as there is heavy traffic in both directions and the verges are not great.

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User 16321991

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Apart from a bit of everything about a kilometre away
Great route

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SYLLAV
SYLLAV
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant little country walk , mostly along the "Saucats" through fields. The section on the fairly busy road is really not very long, less than 500 metres. Very nice

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jiced
jiced

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had time to enjoy a hot drink in a grocery store-café
on Isle Saint Georges and were very warmly welcomed even though we arrived just as they were closing.
No particular problems

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Malo2203
Malo2203

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike, we recommend it

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stjo
stjo

@Ludodu78 Allow me to correct you: the section of road that is "very busy" and "fast-moving" (deliberately put in quotation marks) is not after the point (6) but between the point (5) and the point (6) - Oh... just over 600 metres!

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Ludodu78
Ludodu78

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
As described. I would just add that after the start, and quite quickly up to point 3, the walk is on a road. It is not very busy, but it is less pleasant than from point 3 in Îles Saint Georges.
In fact, from point 6 onwards, the road is very busy with cars travelling at high speed.
Nevertheless, thank you to the contributor for this hike.

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elisa943
elisa943

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Hike completed on 26/05/2023 from Saint Médard D'Eyrans at around 11 a.m.
I parked at the large car park by the multi-sports hall.
I found this walk very pleasant, with a special mention for the section that runs along the Saucats on one bank, then on the other, even though you're in full sun on this part.
I was a little unsure about finding the trail again from the village of Isle Saint Georges.
I wasn't too bothered by the road sections, as there weren't too many cars out early in the afternoon.
The view of Turpault Castle and the traditional building at the end of the route is worth the detour.
It's a shame that this area is threatened by the future high-speed rail line, as is written everywhere.
The explanations are quite sufficient to complete the route without getting lost. Thank you.

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